JP5501035B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that corrects misalignment of a formed image.

  A positional shift (color shift) is known as a problem of the tandem color image forming apparatus. The tandem system is a system that includes the same number of developing machines and photoconductors as the number of toner colors, and sequentially transfers images of different colors onto a conveyance belt or a recording medium. The misregistration means that the image is transferred to a position different from the expected position. As a cause of the positional deviation, there are a non-uniformity of the lens of the deflection scanning device, an attachment positional deviation, and an assembling positional deviation of the deflection scanning apparatus to the color image forming apparatus main body. In that case, an inclination or a curve is generated in the scanning line, and the degree is different for each color, thereby causing an image position shift (color shift).

  As a method of dealing with this problem, there is a method of measuring the inclination and curvature of the scanning line using an optical sensor, correcting the bitmap image data so as to cancel them, and forming the corrected image. (Patent Document 1).

  In general, in a color image forming apparatus, a misregistration detection pattern for each color is formed on an image carrier such as a photosensitive member or an intermediate transfer member, or a transfer material carrier such as a conveyor belt. It is detected by optical sensors on both sides of the downstream part. Then, in accordance with the detection result, the positional deviation is corrected.

JP 2004-170755 A

  However, when a misregistration detection pattern is formed on the transfer material carrier by the misregistration correction method using the technique of Patent Document 1, the pattern detection accuracy may deteriorate. Hereinafter, the reason why the detection accuracy deteriorates will be described.

  When obtaining a positional deviation (color deviation) using a positional deviation detection pattern, a pattern composed of horizontal lines and diagonal lines is formed, and the position of the line is determined by the optical sensor passing over the line. Detection is performed, and a positional deviation is calculated based on the detected line position. FIG. 11A shows an example of a misregistration detection pattern formed on the transfer material carrier. K1 and K2 are misregistration detection patterns formed of black, and Y is a misregistration detection pattern formed of yellow. The detection timings of the K1, K2, and Y lines by the optical sensor are t1, t2, and t3, respectively, and the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer member is v. Then, the position shift in the sub-scanning direction between black and yellow can be obtained by {t3− (t1 + t2) / 2} × v. The positional deviation in the sub-scanning direction is a deviation in the arrow direction (scanning line direction of the optical sensor) in FIG. Although the pattern of this example is composed only of black and yellow, it is possible to obtain a positional shift in the sub-scanning direction between other colors with a similar pattern.

  Moreover, the detection timing of each line is calculated | required from the signal of an optical sensor. FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a horizontal line formed as a part of a pattern for detecting misalignment and a scanning line of an optical sensor, and FIG. 11C is a horizontal line of FIG. It is a figure showing the signal from the optical sensor at the time of detecting along a scanning line. As shown in FIG. 11C, the timing at which the signal and the threshold (for example, the density threshold) intersect is set as the detection timing of the line edge, and the detection timing at both ends of the line is averaged to obtain the center of the line in the sub-scanning direction. The position detection timing is obtained. This center position detection timing is the above-described line detection timing.

  Here, when detecting a misregistration detection pattern that has been subjected to misregistration correction using the method of Patent Document 1 by the above method, there is a possibility that the detection accuracy deteriorates. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an image formation image when the positional deviation correction is performed on the horizontal line, and FIG. 12B is a case where the line of FIG. 12A is detected by the optical sensor. It is the figure which showed the detection signal. When the positional deviation correction is performed as shown in FIG. 12A, in addition to the correction in units of pixels, a small pixel of less than one pixel is used at the edge portion of the line. Details of these correction methods are described in Patent Document 1.

  Here, in general, since an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has difficulty in stably forming small pixels due to the influence of toner fluidity, an edge portion of a line composed of small pixels is unstable. It is easy to become.

  In the case of forming a small pixel, if the amount of light at the time of exposure is reduced or the exposure time is shortened, the latent image becomes shallow, and the amount of applied toner is not stabilized. For this reason, the actual detection signal indicated by the solid line is detected with an edge shifted compared to the ideal detection signal indicated by the dotted line in FIG. As a result, since the center position of the line described above is also shifted and calculated, the detection accuracy of the pattern for detecting displacement is deteriorated.

  In addition, regardless of the correction described above, even when correction is performed on a pixel-by-pixel basis, for example, a defect may occur in the misalignment detection result due to the correction. For example, this is a case where the formed misregistration detection patterns overlap. As described above, in the case of performing digital misregistration correction in which the image data itself is corrected in relation to the sub-scanning direction, a problem occurs regarding the detection result of the misregistration detection pattern.

  An object of the present invention is to form a misregistration detection pattern so as to be detected with high accuracy in an image forming apparatus that performs misregistration correction.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a correction value used to correct a shift in the sub-scanning direction of an image, and the correction value without using a value after the decimal point included in the correction value. Correction means for correcting the position of the pixels included in the image data in the sub-scanning direction using the integer value included in the image data, and forming means for forming an image based on the image data after the correction is performed The storage means using a value obtained by measuring a deviation in the sub-scanning direction of the formed image and a value of the correction value excluding the integer value used for the correction. Updating means for updating the correction value stored in the storage .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the calculation accuracy of the positional deviation amount in the image forming apparatus that performs the positional deviation correction.

It is sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of a color image forming apparatus. 1 is a functional block diagram of a color image forming apparatus and a diagram illustrating an embodiment of signal processing in the functional block diagram. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a positional deviation amount of an image in the sub-scanning direction and a positional deviation correction amount Δy with respect to each position in the main scanning direction when the scanning line is inclined or curved. It is a figure for demonstrating one Embodiment of the image correction at the time of normal image formation. It is a figure which shows an example of the detection pattern for position shift formed on a transfer material carrier. It is a flowchart of the switching process of an image correction method. It is a figure for demonstrating that the level | step difference of a line appears when image correction is performed without smoothing. It is a figure for demonstrating the positional relationship of a detection pattern and a level | step difference suppression area | region. It is a figure for demonstrating one Embodiment of the image correction at the time of detection pattern formation. It is a figure for demonstrating the difference in the position shift detection precision by each image correction method. It is a figure for demonstrating concerning the position shift detection between two colors of a subscanning direction. It is the figure which showed the detection signal at the time of detecting the horizontal line after position shift correction with an optical sensor. It is a figure for demonstrating the positional offset amount of a subscanning direction. It is a flowchart of a calculation process of a positional deviation amount.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a color image forming apparatus having image forming means for four colors, that is, yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit shown in FIG. 1 and an image processing unit (not shown).

  The operation of the image forming unit in the electrophotographic color image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The color image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 forms an electrostatic latent image with exposure light that is turned on based on the exposure time converted by the image processing unit, and develops the electrostatic latent image to form a single color toner image. The single color toner images are sequentially superposed to form a multicolor toner image. Further, the multicolor toner image is transferred to the transfer material 11 and the multicolor toner image on the transfer material 11 is fixed. The image forming unit includes a paper feeding unit 21, photosensitive drums (22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K), and injection chargers (23Y, 23M, 23C, 23K). The image forming unit includes a scanner unit (24Y, 24M, 24C, 24K), a toner cartridge (25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K), a developing device (26Y, 26M, 26C, 26K), an intermediate transfer belt 27, and a transfer roller 28. And a fixing unit 30.

  The photosensitive drums 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K rotate by receiving a drive transmission from a motor (not shown). The motor rotates the photosensitive drums 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K in a counterclockwise direction according to an image forming operation. Rotate. Around the photosensitive drums 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K, there are injection charging devices 23Y, 23M, 23C, and 23K for charging the photosensitive members, and developing devices 26Y, 26M, 26C, and 26K that perform development. It has been.

  The intermediate transfer belt 27 is rotated in the clockwise direction by the rotation of an intermediate transfer belt drive roller 32 (hereinafter referred to as drive roller), and the drive roller 32 is rotated by receiving drive transmission from a motor (not shown). .

  In image formation, first, the rotating photosensitive drum is charged by the injection chargers 23Y, 23M, 23C, and 23K, and then the surface of the photosensitive drum is selectively exposed from the scanner units 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K. An electrostatic latent image is formed. Then, the latent image is developed with toner by the developing devices 26Y, 26M, 26C, and 26K to form a visible image. The single color toner image is superposed on the intermediate transfer belt 27 rotating in the clockwise direction with the rotation of the photosensitive drum and sequentially transferred. Thereafter, the transfer roller 28 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 27, and the multicolor toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 27 is transferred to the transfer material 11 that is nipped and conveyed. Further, the transfer material 11 holding the multicolor toner image is applied with heat and pressure at the fixing unit 30, and the toner is fixed on the transfer material. After the toner image is fixed, the transfer material 11 is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown) by a discharge roller (not shown). The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 27 is cleaned by the cleaning unit 29, and the cleaned toner is stored in a cleaner container.

  The image detection unit 31 includes two image detection sensors 31L and 31R (described in FIG. 5) provided on both sides of the intermediate transfer belt 27, and detects the amount of misregistration of each color by a method described later.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the color image forming apparatus and a diagram illustrating an embodiment of signal processing in the functional block diagram.

  In FIG. 2, the host 301, the controller 302, and the engine 303 have independent main control units (CPUs 312, 313, and 314) for controlling each block in each device. Each CPU controls the operation in each device and the communication between the devices. In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the controller unit and the engine unit are configured separately, and are configured to be closed between the devices so that the devices are individually controlled. Note that the host 301 can be an information processing apparatus separate from the image forming apparatus.

  An RGB image signal is transmitted from the host 301 and input to the controller 302. The input RGB signal is subjected to masking and UCR (under color removal) processing by the color conversion processing unit 304. In addition, color correction and background removal are performed and converted into yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K image signals. Further, correction is performed by the γ correction unit 305 so that the output density curve becomes linear. Thereafter, the image correction unit 315 corrects the image data of each color so as to perform image position correction in the sub-scanning direction, and the corrected image data is input to the engine 303.

  A laser driving unit 306 turns on and off the laser in accordance with an image data signal 307 from the controller 302 to the engine 303. Reference numeral 308 denotes a horizontal synchronization signal from the engine 303 to the controller 302, and reference numeral 309 denotes a vertical synchronization signal from the engine 303 to the controller 302. Image data is output from the controller 302 to the engine 303 in accordance with these synchronization signals. Reference numeral 310 denotes various command transmission signals from the controller 302 to the engine 303, and 311 denotes various status signals transmitted from the engine 303 to the controller 302.

Next, a method for correcting image data in the image correction unit 315 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the positional deviation amount of the image in the sub-scanning direction and the positional deviation correction amount Δy with respect to each position in the main scanning direction when the scanning line is inclined or curved. The image is formed by correcting the image tilt and the image curvature according to the positional deviation correction amount Δy. The positional deviation correction amount Δy is a correction amount for canceling the positional deviation in the sub-scanning direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the positional deviation amount in the sub-scanning direction and the positional deviation correction amount Δy have an inverse relationship. . For example, in the device manufacturing process, the amount of misalignment is measured for each device, and the misalignment correction amount Δy is obtained in advance based on the measured misalignment amount. Even if the correction amount is obtained in advance, there may be a case where a deviation occurs in another position due to a temporal factor such as heat and belt durability. In this case, a pattern for detecting misregistration formed on the image carrier such as the intermediate transfer belt 27 is detected by the image detecting unit 31 as in the misregistration detecting method described later, and Δy is calculated from the detection result. can do. Since the inclination and curvature of the scanning line differ for each color (yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K), different corrections corresponding to the inclination and curvature of each scanning line are applied to the image data for each color. Do.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining that during normal image formation, image correction in the sub-scanning direction is performed on image data at each position in the main scanning direction, and image position correction in the sub-scanning direction is performed. FIG. Note that normal image formation refers to image formation according to user-desired image data input from the outside, not to form a calibration (positional deviation detection pattern) pattern, which will be described later. That is, it means forming an image other than the misregistration detection pattern. Hereinafter, the image correction method will be described with reference to FIG. 4, taking as an example a portion in which a position deviation of the image inclination that rises to the right occurs. The image correction method shown in FIG. 4 is executed by the image correction unit 315 described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4A is an image of a scanning line in a portion where a positional deviation with an upward slope is generated. In this example, an inclination of 1 dot is generated per 4 dots in the main scanning direction of the scanner unit. FIG. 4B is an example of a horizontal straight-line bitmap image before gradation value conversion, and represents a 2-dot line. FIG. 4C is a corrected bitmap image obtained by correcting the bitmap image in FIG. 4B in order to cancel the positional deviation due to the inclination of the scanning line in FIG. The correction image in FIG. 4C is an ideal correction bitmap image, and digital correction is realized by adjusting the pixel value for each pixel. FIG. 4D is a table showing the relationship between the positional deviation correction amount Δy and the gradation value conversion parameter for each pixel in the main scanning direction of FIG. The tone value conversion parameter is a parameter for correcting less than one pixel. Note that Δy in FIG. 4D corresponds to the positional deviation correction amount Δy described in FIG. k is an integer part (truncated after the decimal point) of the positional deviation correction amount Δy, and represents the correction amount in the sub-scanning direction in units of one pixel. In the image position correction in units of one pixel, the pixels are offset (coordinate correction) in the sub-scanning direction in units of one pixel according to the correction amount.

β and α are image data adjustment distribution ratios (tone value conversion parameters) for performing image position correction in the sub-scanning direction of less than one pixel, and information in the sub-scanning direction is obtained from information below the decimal point of the position shift correction amount Δy. Represents the distribution ratio of the pixel gradation values before and after,
β = Δy−k
α = 1−β
Is calculated by α is a distribution ratio at a position offset by k pixels from the original pixel in the sub-scanning direction, and β is a distribution ratio at a position offset by k + 1 pixels. The gradation values distributed according to the distribution ratios α and β are added to the gradation values at the distribution positions of the corrected bitmap image.

Therefore, it is possible to express the pixel value of the bitmap image after correction in the following form.
processed_value (x, y) = α × value (x, yk) + β × value (x, y- (k + 1))
Here, value (x, y) indicates the pixel value at the main scanning position x and the sub-scanning position y before correction, and processed_value (x, y) is the pixel value at the main scanning position x and the sub-scanning position y after correction. Indicates.

  FIG. 4E is a bitmap image obtained by performing pixel gradation value conversion before and after in the sub-scanning direction according to the image correction parameter of FIG. FIG. 4F shows an exposure image of an image carrier of a bitmap image that has undergone tone value conversion, and the inclination of the main scanning line is canceled out to form a horizontal straight line.

  The above is the description of the image correction method. Note that the correction method described here is a method at the time of normal image formation, and a method different from this correction method is used as described later at the time of detecting a positional deviation.

  Next, the displacement detection operation of this embodiment will be described.

  A misregistration detection pattern (hereinafter referred to as a detection pattern or pattern) as shown in FIG. 5 is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 27, and image detection sensors 31 L and 31 R provided on both sides of the intermediate transfer belt 27. Read and detect the amount of misregistration of each color. Such a misregistration detection operation is executed by an instruction from the CPU 313 or the CPU 314 when the misregistration from the previous misregistration detection is predicted to be large. The position shift is expected to be large when there is a change in temperature / humidity after printing a certain number of sheets immediately after startup, after a certain period of time has elapsed since startup. Reference numerals 41 to 44 in FIG. 5 are patterns for detecting the amount of positional deviation in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. In this example, the inclination is 45 degrees, and K1 to K4 are reference colors (black), Y, M, and C. Indicates a detected color (Y: yellow, M: magenta, C: cyan). A deviation amount from the reference color is a positional deviation amount in each detected color. The patterns 41 and 43 are detected by the image detection sensor 31L, and the patterns 42 and 44 are detected by the image detection sensor 31R. Further, tYL1, tML1, tCL1, tK1L1, tK2L1, tK3L1, tK4L1 indicate the detection timing of the pattern 41, and tYR1, tMR1, tCR1, tK1R1, tK2R1, tK3R1, and tK4R1 indicate the detection timing of the pattern 42. Further, tYL2, tML2, tCL2, tK1L2, tK2L2, tK3L2, and tK4L2 indicate the detection timing of the pattern 43, and tYR2, tMR2, tCR2, tK1R2, tK2R2, tK3R2, and tK4R2 indicate the detection timing of the pattern 44. An arrow indicates the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 27. Therefore, in FIG. 5, the sub-scanning direction corresponds to the vertical direction that is the same as or opposite to the arrow direction, and the main scanning direction corresponds to the horizontal direction. Each pattern of the pattern 41 is arranged at equal intervals, and the patterns 42 to 44 are similarly arranged at equal intervals. An interval between detection timings of the patterns 41 and 43 and an interval between detection timings of the patterns 42 and 44 in an ideal state with no positional deviation are defined as Tdt. That is, the difference tK1L2−tK1L1 between the detection timings tK1L1 and tK1L2 of the patterns 41K1 and 43K1 is Tdt in an ideal state with no positional deviation. The same applies to other detection timing intervals. Details of the positional deviation amount calculation method in the present embodiment using these values will be described later.

[Image correction method switching flowchart]
Next, an image correction method for the misregistration detection pattern in the image correction unit 315 will be described. When the misregistration detection pattern is formed, image data that is different from the normal image formation is corrected. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the switching determination of the image correction method, and shows processing by the image correction unit 315. Here, the switching determination is performed for all image formations.

  Hereinafter, the switching determination will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the CPU 313 determines whether an image to be printed is a misregistration detection pattern before image formation (S1). For example, when the image signal sent from the host 301 includes information indicating a misregistration detection pattern, it is determined that the image to be printed is the misregistration detection pattern. If the image to be printed is not a misregistration detection pattern, the CPU 313 uses an image correction method at the time of normal image formation in the image correction unit 315 (S2). When the image to be printed is a misregistration detection pattern, the CPU 313 uses the image correction method when forming the misregistration detection pattern in the image correction unit 315 (S3). In this way, the image correction method is switched.

[Image correction method when misalignment is detected]
Next, a description will be given of portions where the image correction method at the time of forming the misregistration detection pattern is different from that at the time of normal image formation. The following two are given as different parts.
The first is that image position correction of less than one pixel in the sub-scanning direction is not performed when the misregistration detection pattern is formed.

  In an image correction method at the time of normal image formation, image smoothing (smoothing) is performed using small pixels of less than one dot at the time of gradation value conversion. For this reason, small pixels (halftone dots) unstable in the electrophotographic method are formed near the edge of the line, and the edge portion of the line may not have the intended density. Therefore, when forming a detection pattern, image correction of the detection pattern is performed without applying smoothing, so that a stable pattern can be formed and edges can be detected with high accuracy.

The second is to perform processing so as not to generate a step in the sub-scanning direction.
Here, when image correction is simply performed without smoothing, one or more steps of 1 dot occur on the horizontal line as shown in FIG. If there is a step near the scanning line of the image detection sensor, the image detection sensor 31 may read this step, and the positional deviation may not be detected accurately. For example, it may not be possible to accurately detect whether the shift that causes the step is caused by the image being shifted upward or by the image being shifted downward.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a step suppression region 51 is provided in the vicinity of the scanning line (near the detection region) of the image detection sensor 31, and measures are taken so that no line step is generated in the step suppression region 51. . In an ideal situation where no positional deviation has occurred, the vicinity of the scanning line of the image detection sensor 31 coincides with the central portion of the detection pattern in the main scanning direction. Hereinafter, an image correction method when forming a detection pattern in consideration of these two points will be described with reference to FIG.

[Detection pattern to be formed]
FIG. 9A shows an image of a scanning line having a slope that rises to the right. Specifically, for example, the detection pattern of tY1L1 shown in FIG. In addition, here, as in FIG. 4A, an inclination of 1 dot occurs per 4 dots in the main scanning direction. That is, FIG. 9A shows a state where the scanning line rising to the right of tY1L1 is further inclined to the right.

  FIG. 9B is an example of a horizontal straight line bitmap image before correction, and represents a 2-dot wide line. As shown in FIG. 8, the detection pattern is a pattern having an angle of 45 degrees, but here it is described as a horizontal straight line for the sake of simplicity of explanation.

  FIG. 9C shows a corrected bitmap image obtained by correcting the bitmap image shown in FIG. 9B in order to cancel the positional deviation caused by the inclination of the scanning line shown in FIG. In order to realize the corrected image of FIG. 9C, the image data of the pixels before and after in the sub-scanning direction are adjusted. The adjustment of the image data here refers to the coordinate correction of the bitmap image and the adjustment of the image gradation value described above. Note that when forming a detection pattern, smoothing processing is not performed on pixels less than one pixel.

  FIG. 9D is a table showing the relationship between the positional deviation correction amount Δy and the gradation value conversion parameter.

  In the table of FIG. 9D, pixels marked in the step suppression row represent pixels in the step suppression region 51. The step suppression area 51 is an area near the scanning line of the image detection line sensor 31. The step suppression area 51 is calculated from information such as the installation position of the image detection sensor 31 and its detection range. As shown in FIG. 9D, a plurality of pixel positions in the main scanning direction of the detection pattern corresponds to the step suppression region 51. In addition, k represents an integer part of the misregistration correction amount Δy (truncated after the decimal point), and k ′ represents a correction amount in the sub-scanning direction in units of one pixel. The pixels are offset in the sub-scanning direction in units of pixels according to the correction amount k ′. Unlike image correction at the time of normal image formation, the value of k is not directly used as a correction amount so that the value of the correction amount does not change within the step suppression region. That is, in the step suppression region, image data coordinate correction in the sub-scanning direction is not performed at a predetermined pixel position (first predetermined position) in the main scanning direction, and other than the predetermined pixel position (outside of the step suppression region). In the second predetermined position), coordinate correction is performed.

  The fact that the change of the value of k ′ is allowed outside the step suppression area, that is, the coordinate correction of the image data outside the step suppression area is the reason why the coordinate correction is not executed for all of the detection patterns. This is because the pattern may overlap with the pattern before and after. This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 9E is a bitmap image obtained by adjusting the positions of the front and rear pixels in the sub-scanning direction according to the image correction parameter of FIG. A hatched portion in FIG. 9E represents the step suppression region 51. Since the image correction method is different from that at the time of normal image formation, even if the inclination amount is the same, the correction result is different from that in FIG.

  FIG. 9F shows how the pattern is formed when no correction is performed on the image data that is the basis of the pattern for detecting the amount of displacement. That is, the pattern formation is shown when smoothing processing for less than one pixel and offset processing for each pixel are not performed. In this case, if the degree of image tilt or image curvature is large, the patterns before and after in the sub-scanning direction overlap each other. If the deviation in the main scanning direction is large, the overlapped portion is detected by the image detection sensor, and as a result, erroneous misalignment correction may be performed. In the example of FIG. 9F, the detection; pattern is formed so that the detection timing tYL1 of the detection color is detected between the detection timings tK1L1 and tK2L1 of the reference color. However, on the right side of FIG. 9 (f), the detection timing tYL1 of the detected color has jumped out from between the reference colors, and the misregistration from another reference color (not shown) is erroneously calculated.

  On the other hand, FIG. 9G shows that the image data corresponding to the step suppression region 51 is not corrected with respect to the image data that is the basis of the pattern for detecting the displacement amount, and the step suppression region 51 is not corrected. A case where image data corresponding to an outer pattern is corrected is shown. That is, as described above, an example in which the smoothing process of less than one pixel is not performed and the offset process in units of one pixel is performed on an area other than the step suppression area 51 is shown. The step suppression area 51 is an area in the vicinity of the scanning line of the image detection sensor 31, and the pattern of the entire image to be formed (on the image data, white data is included in the portion where the pattern is not formed). Compared with, the area is small. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the detection patterns from overlapping by performing offset processing in units of one pixel for regions other than the step suppression region 51. On the other hand, by not performing the offset process for the step suppression region 51, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a step in the step left wing region 51 and prevent an erroneous position shift from being calculated.

  Note that the actual offset process does not have to be performed for the portion where the detection pattern is not formed. That is, the calculation itself for correcting the misregistration is performed, but the process of actually offsetting the image for the portion where the detection pattern is not formed may be omitted.

  Note that, when the position shift in the main scanning direction is large, the pattern is formed at a position shifted in the main scanning direction, and the image detection sensor 31 detects the pattern outside the formation step suppression region 51. There is a case. In other words, there may be a case where an image to be formed in the step suppression region 51 cannot be formed in an expected region. In such a case, if a pattern for detecting the amount of misalignment is formed as shown in FIG. 9G, the detection area of the image detection sensor 31 is outside the formation step suppression area 51 of FIG. Therefore, there is a possibility of detecting the step described with reference to FIG. However, as compared with the case where the pattern is formed as shown in FIG. 9 (f), it is possible to avoid detecting a portion where at least the positional deviation amount detection patterns of different colors overlap, which is better than the case of FIG. 9 (f). A detection result can be obtained. Note that the value of k and the value of k ′ are substantially the same outside the step suppression region. The reason for not being the same is that there is a hardware restriction that can only perform offset processing in the sub-scanning direction for one line at a time, and offset processing in the sub-scanning direction was not performed multiple times within the step suppression area. Is the case. In such a case, there may be a region where the value of k does not match the value of k ′ outside the step suppression region. However, the step suppression area is a small area in the image, and the number of times that the offset process has not been performed is only a few times. Therefore, it is unlikely that the misregistration detection patterns of different colors overlap.

  Thus, based on the image data of the misregistration detection pattern image corrected for the misregistration detection pattern formation shown in FIG. 9, the pattern is formed in the shape of the intermediate transfer belt 27 by the electrophotographic configuration described in FIG. Is formed.

[Difference in detection pattern detection accuracy]
Next, an image correction method at the time of normal image formation and an image correction method at the time of forming a misregistration detection pattern are compared, and the difference in detection pattern detection accuracy when a detection pattern is formed by each correction method is described. To do.

  FIG. 10 shows the state of a line when image correction is performed on a horizontal line and printing, and a detection signal when the line is detected by the image detection sensor 31. 10A performs image correction during normal image formation, and FIG. 10B performs image correction during formation of a misregistration detection pattern. Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the timing at which the signal crosses a predetermined threshold value is the detection timing of the line edge, and the detection timing of the line is the average value of the detection timings at both ends of the line (detection timing of the center position). .

  In the case of FIG. 10A, since smoothing is performed on the edge portion of the line, an unstable small pixel smaller than one pixel is used. Therefore, the edge portion becomes unstable, and the edge is detected with a deviation from an ideal signal. In FIG. 10B, since smoothing is not performed, the edge portion is more stable than that in FIG. 10A, and the error during edge detection is small. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the line is improved in the case of FIG. 10B compared to the case of FIG. 10A, and thus the detection pattern can be detected with high accuracy.

[Calculation of misalignment]
A method for calculating the amount of misregistration in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

<Step S1401>
In step S1401, the CPU 313 calculates a positional deviation amount in the main scanning direction. Regarding the main scanning direction, the amount of positional deviation of each color on both sides of the intermediate transfer belt detected by the detection pattern is
ΔsYL = v × (tYL1-tYL2)
ΔsYR = v × (tYR1−tYR2)
ΔsML = v × (tML1-tML2)
ΔsMR = v × (tMR1-tMR2)
ΔsCL = v × (tCL1-tCL2)
ΔsCR = v × (tCR1−tCR2)
It becomes.

From these, the average positional deviation amounts ΔsY, ΔsM, ΔsC in the main scanning direction of yellow, magenta, and cyan are
ΔsY = (ΔsYL + ΔsYR) / 2
ΔsM = (ΔsML + ΔsMR) / 2
ΔsC = (ΔsCL + ΔsCR) / 2
It becomes.

  Also, a value for correcting the main scanning magnification is calculated. The main scanning magnification is corrected by finely adjusting the frequency of the image data signal 207 (if the scanning width is long, the frequency is increased) and changing the scanning line length to correct the magnification in the main scanning direction. To do. The mechanism for correcting the misregistration in the main scanning direction is a well-known matter, and a detailed description of magnification correction in the main scanning direction here will be omitted.

<Step S1402>
In step S1402, the CPU 313 calculates a difference amount between the ideal correction amount and the actual correction amount for each detection pattern. As shown in FIG. 9D, in the image correction at the time of forming the misregistration detection pattern, there is a difference between the misregistration correction amount Δy and the actual correction amount k ′. If Δy−k ′ at the sensor position is calculated, it is possible to calculate the difference amount (the amount not corrected) of the correction amount. By using this value, it is possible to calculate the amount of positional deviation in the sub-scanning direction with higher accuracy. That is, by using a value that is not used for actual correction for calculating the amount of positional deviation, the amount of positional deviation in the sub-scanning direction can be calculated with higher accuracy. (The positional deviation amount in the main scanning direction is not related to the amount of positional deviation in the sub-scanning direction, so there is no need to use this correction amount difference amount.) The same color is used for pattern detection. Since the difference amount of the correction amount of the detection pattern having the same sensor has the same value for Δy and k ′, the difference amount also has the same value.

The difference amount ΔY_DIF_L of the correction amounts of the marks 41Y and 43Y, the difference amount ΔY_DIF_R of the correction amounts of the marks 42Y and 44Y, and the difference amount ΔM_DIF_L of the correction amounts of the marks 41M and 43M are obtained by the following equations. Further, the difference amount ΔM_DIF_R of the correction amounts of the marks 42M and 44M, the difference amount ΔC_DIF_L of the correction amounts of the marks 41C and 43C, and the difference amount ΔC_DIF_R of the correction amounts of the marks 42C and 44C are obtained by the following equations. Further, the difference amount ΔK_DIF_L of the correction amounts of the marks 41K1 to 41K4 and 43K1 to 43K4 and the difference amount ΔK_DIF_R of the correction amounts of the marks 42K1 to 42K4 and 44K1 to 44K4 are obtained by the following equations.
ΔY_DIF_L = ΔyY_L−k′Y_L
ΔY_DIF_R = ΔyY_R−k′Y_R
ΔM_DIF_L = ΔyM_L−k′M_L
ΔM_DIF_R = ΔyM_R−k′M_R
ΔC_DIF_L = ΔyC_L−k′C_L
ΔC_DIF_R = ΔyC_R−k′C_R
ΔK_DIF_L = ΔyK_L−k′K_L
ΔK_DIF_R = ΔyK_R−k′K_R
Here, ΔyY_L is a yellow misalignment correction amount at the main scanning position of the image detection sensor 31L. k′Y_L is an actual correction amount of yellow at the main scanning position of the image detection sensor 31L. ΔyY_R and k′Y_R respectively represent the yellow misalignment correction amount and the actual correction amount at the main scanning position of the image detection sensor 31R. ΔyM_L and k′M_L are the magenta positional deviation correction amount and the actual correction amount at the main scanning position of the image detection sensor 31L. ΔyM_R and k′M_R are a magenta positional deviation correction amount and an actual correction amount at the main scanning position of the image detection sensor 31R. ΔyC_L and k′C_L are the cyan positional deviation correction amount and the actual correction amount at the main scanning position of the image detection sensor 31L. ΔyC_R and k′C_R are the cyan positional deviation correction amount and the actual correction amount at the main scanning position of the image detection sensor 31R. ΔyK_L and k′K_L are the black misalignment correction amount and the actual correction amount at the main scanning position of the image detection sensor 31L. ΔyK_R and k′K_R are the yellow misalignment correction amount and the actual correction amount at the main scanning position of the image detection sensor 31R. For the main scanning position of the sensor position, the positional deviation amount in the main scanning direction obtained in step S1401 uses a value considering the influence of main scanning magnification distortion.

<Step S1403>
In step S1403, the CPU 313 calculates the amount of misregistration of each color on both sides of the intermediate transfer belt detected by the detection pattern in the sub scanning direction.

First, based on the detection timing after correction of the reference color, the detection timing shift after correction in the detection color is obtained. The detection timing shifts ΔYL1, ΔYR1, ΔYL2, and ΔYR2 of the marks 41Y to 44Y are obtained by the following equations. The detection timing shifts ΔML1, ΔMR1, ΔML2, and ΔMR2 of the marks 41M to 44M and the detection timing shifts ΔCL1, ΔCR1, ΔCL2, and ΔCR2 of the marks 41C to 44C are obtained by the following equations.
ΔYL1 = tYL1- (tK1L1 + tK2L1) / 2
ΔYR1 = tYR1− (tK1R1 + tK2R1) / 2
ΔYL2 = tYL2− (tK1L2 + tK2L2) / 2
ΔYR2 = tYR2− (tK1R2 + tK2R2) / 2
ΔML1 = tML1- (tK2L1 + tK3L1) / 2
ΔMR1 = tMR1- (tK2R1 + tK3R1) / 2
ΔML2 = tML2− (tK2L2 + tK3L2) / 2
ΔMR2 = tMR2- (tK2R2 + tK3R2) / 2
ΔCL1 = tCL1− (tK3L1 + tK4L1) / 2
ΔCR1 = tCR1− (tK3R1 + tK4R1) / 2
ΔCL2 = tCL2- (tK3L2 + tK4L2) / 2
ΔCR2 = tCR2− (tK3R2 + tK4R2) / 2
From the above detection timing shift, the amount of positional shift of each color on both sides of the intermediate transfer belt detected by the detection pattern is
ΔpYL_MEASURE = v × (ΔYL1 + ΔYL2) / 2
ΔpYR_MEASURE = v × (ΔYR1 + ΔYR2) / 2
ΔpML_MEASURE = v × (ΔML1 + ΔML2) / 2
ΔpMR_MEASURE = v × (ΔMR1 + ΔMR2) / 2
ΔpCL_MEASURE = v × (ΔCL1 + ΔCL2) / 2
ΔpCR_MEASURE = v × (ΔCR1 + ΔCR2) / 2
It becomes. Here, v is the moving speed of the intermediate transfer belt 27.

Since this value does not take into account the difference amount of the correction amount calculated in step S1402, the value includes an error corresponding to the difference amount of the correction amount with respect to the original position shift amount. Therefore, in consideration of the difference amount calculated in step S1402, the actual positional deviation amount of each color is
ΔpYL = ΔpYL_MEASURE + ΔY_DIF_L−ΔK_DIF_L
ΔpYR = ΔpYR_MEASURE + ΔY_DIF_R−ΔK_DIF_R
ΔpML = ΔpML_MEASURE + ΔM_DIF_L−ΔK_DIF_L
ΔpMR = ΔpMR_MEASURE + ΔM_DIF_R−ΔK_DIF_R
ΔpCL = ΔpCL_MEASURE + ΔC_DIF_L−ΔK_DIF_L
ΔpCR = ΔpCR_MEASURE + ΔC_DIF_R−ΔK_DIF_R
It becomes.

  The difference amount is a value of one line or less when k and k ′ described in FIG. 9D match. In that case, since the difference is from black, the difference amount is a maximum of two pixels. For example, when one pixel is 600 dpi, two pixels are about 80 μm, which causes a large positional shift. Even higher resolutions will still cause misalignment. By performing the above calculation, it is possible to reduce the amount of positional deviation caused by the difference between the ideal correction amount and the actual correction amount to zero.

  Based on the actual displacement amount at each sensor position, the offset displacement amount and the inclination displacement amount in the sub-scanning direction are calculated.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the relationship between the offset position deviation amount and the tilt position deviation amount in the sub-scanning direction, taking yellow as an example. ΔpY_OFFSET is an offset position shift amount in the sub-scanning direction, ΔpY_TILT_L is a tilt position shift amount in the left sub-scanning direction, and ΔpY_TILT_R is a tilt position shift amount in the right sub-scanning direction.

Specifically, the offset displacement amounts ΔpY_OFFSET, ΔpM_OFFSET, ΔpC_OFFSET in the sub-scanning direction of yellow, magenta, and cyan are:
ΔpY_OFFSET = (ΔpYL + ΔpYR) / 2
ΔpM_OFFSET = (ΔpML + ΔpMR) / 2
ΔpC_OFFSET = (ΔpCL + ΔpCR) / 2
It becomes.

Further, the tilt position deviation amounts ΔpY_TILT_L, ΔpM_TILT_L, ΔpC_TILT_L in the sub-scanning direction on the left side of yellow, magenta, and cyan are
ΔpY_TILT_L = ΔpYL−ΔpY_OFFSET
ΔpM_TILT_L = ΔpML−ΔpM_OFFSET
ΔpC_TILT_L = ΔpCL−ΔpC_OFFSET
It becomes.

Further, the tilt position deviation amounts ΔpY_TILT_R, ΔpM_TILT_R, ΔpC_TILT_R on the right side of yellow, magenta, and cyan are
ΔpY_TILT_R = ΔpYR−ΔpY_OFFSET
ΔpM_TILT_R = ΔpMR−ΔpM_OFFSET
ΔpC_TILT_R = ΔpCR−ΔpC_OFFSET
It becomes.

<Step S1404>
In step S1404, the CPU 313 calculates a misalignment correction amount from the detected misalignment amounts in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. The tilt position deviation amount in the sub-scanning direction is corrected by the coordinate correction of the bitmap image described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 and the correction of the position deviation by adjusting the image gradation value. The offset displacement amount in the sub-scanning direction and the displacement displacement correction in the main scanning direction will be described taking yellow as an example. Based on the offset displacement amount ΔpY_OFFSET in the sub-scanning direction, the image forming timing in the sub-scanning direction is adjusted. At this time, only the sub-scanning offset can be corrected in units of one pixel, but correction of the sub-scanning offset for less than one pixel can be realized by using a mechanism for correcting the tilt position deviation amount. This can be realized by generating the corrected bitmap image of FIG. 4C in consideration of the sub-scan offset component for less than one pixel. Based on the average positional deviation amount ΔsY in the main scanning direction, the scanning line writing timing is adjusted. Further, by finely adjusting the frequency of the image data signal 207 based on ΔsYR−ΔsYL (when the scanning width is long, the frequency is increased), and by changing the length of the scanning line, the magnification in the main scanning direction is changed. Correct. If there is an error in the magnification in the main scanning direction, the writing position is calculated not only by ΔsY but also by taking into account the amount of change in the image frequency that has changed with the magnification correction in the main scanning direction. The same correction is performed for magenta and cyan. Note that the offset position deviation amount in the sub-scanning direction and the mechanism for correcting the position deviation in the main scanning direction based on the detection results of these position deviation detection patterns are well known matters, and detailed description thereof is omitted here. And On the basis of the correction value calculated here, the image correction unit 315 performs image correction from the next time onward.

  As described above, when detecting patterns are formed, smoothing is not applied, and control is performed so that the amount of correction does not change within the step suppression area. It becomes. In addition, it is possible to prevent a situation in which misregistration detection patterns between different colors are overlapped and a misregistration detection is performed completely, and more stable misregistration detection can be performed.

  In addition, when the detection pattern is formed, the difference value of the correction amount that was not smoothed (difference value between the ideal correction amount and the actual correction amount) is used when calculating the positional deviation amount. It is possible to calculate a high positional deviation amount. Since the correction value is calculated using this, the correction accuracy is improved, so that the amount of positional deviation after correction can be reduced.

[Modification 1]
In the above description, only the step suppression region 51 is described as being not subjected to image correction in the sub-scanning direction, but is not limited thereto. For example, when the degree of positional deviation due to mechanical factors is not so severe that the detection patterns overlap each other, image correction in the sub-scanning direction may not be performed for all the positional deviation detection patterns.

[Modification 2]
Further, in the description related to FIGS. 8 and 9 above, the image correction unit 315 has been described to generate image data of a positional deviation detection pattern. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the image itself that has been subjected to the image processing described with reference to FIG. 9 is stored in advance in a non-illustrated non-volatile memory, and when the misregistration detection pattern is formed, the image data is read from the non-volatile memory. A pattern for detecting reading and misalignment may be formed. In this case, for example, at the factory, the inclination or curvature as described in FIG. 3 is measured with a measuring instrument, and the image data of the inverse characteristics of the measured inclination or curvature (the corrected image data described in FIG. 9). ) May be stored in a non-volatile memory provided in the video controller 302 (not shown). The processing after reading out the image data of the misregistration detection pattern subjected to image correction in advance from the nonvolatile memory and using it to form the misregistration detection pattern is the same as in the above embodiment. Detailed explanation in is omitted.

[Modification 3]
In the above description, as an example of performing image correction in the sub-scanning direction at each position in the main scanning direction on the image data and performing image position correction in the sub-scanning direction, the image data is related to the sub-scanning direction of less than one pixel. A case has been described in which image correction and image correction in the sub-scanning direction in pixel units are performed. However, for example, even in an image forming apparatus that executes only image correction in the sub-scanning direction in units of pixels, a certain effect can be obtained in terms of improving detection accuracy of a misregistration detection pattern.

[Modification 4]
Further, in the above description, the controller 302 (the image correction unit 315) performs image correction of the positional deviation detection pattern (coordinate correction in units of one pixel in the sub-scanning direction or adjustment of the density of each pixel in the sub-scanning direction. In the above description, the image position correction in the sub-scanning direction less than the pixels is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to the form in which the controller 302 performs image correction. For example, part or all of the image correction processing may be performed by the engine 303. Further, when image correction processing is executed on either the controller 302 or the engine 303 side, the CPU 313 or CPU 314 may perform the processing, or part or all of the processing may be performed by an ASIC (integrated circuit). Needless to say, it can be done.

[Other examples]
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (17)

Storage means for storing a correction value used for correcting a shift in the sub-scanning direction of the image;
  Correction means for performing correction to shift the position of the pixel included in the image data in the sub-scanning direction using the integer value included in the correction value without using the value after the decimal point included in the correction value;
  Forming means for forming an image based on the image data after the correction;
  The storage means using a value obtained by measuring a deviation in the sub-scanning direction of the formed image and a value obtained by removing the integer value used for the correction among the correction values. Updating means for updating the correction value stored in
  An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the update unit uses a difference value between the correction value and the integer value as a value excluding the integer value used for the correction among the correction values. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a difference value between the correction value and the integer value is a value after the decimal point included in the correction value.   The deviation in the sub-scanning direction of the formed image is measured within a predetermined range in the main scanning direction,
  The correction unit performs correction for shifting the position of a pixel included in image data in a sub-scanning direction using the same integer value within the predetermined range when performing the correction on the image data. Item 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   The update means calculates a difference value between a value obtained by the measurement and a value of the correction value excluding the integer value used for the correction, and uses the difference value to store in the storage means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stored correction value is updated.   The correction means includes
  Correction that shifts the position of the pixel included in the image data in the sub-scanning direction based on the determined amount of shift based on the determined shift amount using the integer value included in the correction value. First correcting means for performing
  The weights of the pixels included in the image data and the pixels adjacent to the pixels in the sub-scanning direction are determined using values after the decimal point included in the correction value, and the pixel obtained based on the determined weights is determined. And a second correction means for correcting the weighted sum of the pixel values of the adjacent pixels as the pixel value of the pixel,
  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:   The image formed by the forming unit includes a determination unit that determines whether the image is a predetermined pattern used for updating the correction value;
  The correcting unit determines that the correcting unit determines that the image formed by the forming unit is a predetermined pattern used for updating the correction value. Correction by the first correction unit is performed without correction by the correction unit, and the determination unit determines that the image formed by the forming unit is not a predetermined pattern used for updating the correction value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein correction by the first correction unit and correction by the second correction unit are performed.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forming unit forms an image on an intermediate transfer belt. Storage means for storing a correction value used for correcting a shift in the sub-scanning direction of the image;
  Correction means for performing correction to shift the position of the pixel included in the image data in the sub-scanning direction using the integer value included in the correction value without using the value after the decimal point included in the correction value;
  Forming means for forming an image based on the image data after the correction;
  The storage means using a value obtained by measuring a deviation in the sub-scanning direction of the formed image and a value obtained by removing the integer value used for the correction among the correction values. Updating means for updating the correction value stored in
  An image forming system. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the update unit uses a difference value between the correction value and the integer value as a value excluding the integer value used for the correction among the correction values. The image forming system according to claim 10, wherein a difference value between the correction value and the integer value is a value after a decimal point included in the correction value.   The deviation in the sub-scanning direction of the formed image is measured within a predetermined range in the main scanning direction,
  The correction unit performs correction for shifting the position of a pixel included in image data in a sub-scanning direction using the same integer value within the predetermined range when performing the correction on the image data. Item 12. The image forming system according to any one of Items 9 to 11.   The update means calculates a difference value between a value obtained by the measurement and a value of the correction value excluding the integer value used for the correction, and uses the difference value to store in the storage means. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the stored correction value is updated.   The correction means includes
  Correction that shifts the position of the pixel included in the image data in the sub-scanning direction based on the determined amount of shift based on the determined shift amount using the integer value included in the correction value. First correcting means for performing
  The weights of the pixels included in the image data and the pixels adjacent to the pixels in the sub-scanning direction are determined using values after the decimal point included in the correction value, and the pixel obtained based on the determined weights is determined. And a second correction means for correcting the weighted sum of the pixel values of the adjacent pixels as the pixel value of the pixel,
  The image forming system according to claim 9, further comprising:   The image formed by the forming unit includes a determination unit that determines whether the image is a predetermined pattern used for updating the correction value;
  The correcting unit determines that the correcting unit determines that the image formed by the forming unit is a predetermined pattern used for updating the correction value. Correction by the first correction unit is performed without correction by the correction unit, and the determination unit determines that the image formed by the forming unit is not a predetermined pattern used for updating the correction value. 15. The image forming system according to claim 14, wherein the correction by the first correction unit and the correction by the second correction unit are performed.   The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the forming unit forms an image on an intermediate transfer belt. A program for causing a computer to function as each means according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

Images